Fellow Stories
True gap year stories from Fellows abroad!
Check out the latest blogs from Global Citizen Year Fellows in Brazil, Ecuador, and India!
Category
Class Year
Country
Empathy
JT Su
2013-10-02
For the past several years of my adolescence, I have always seemed to possess bitterness towards the world around me, appalled at how people could be so judgmental of who I am. Growing up in a predominantly Asian community, where there is a lot of pressure to succeed academically, and even more pressure to attend...
Read More
The Reality of Culture Shock
Conner Evans
2013-10-02
During my first three weeks in Ecuador, I was living in a bubble. My host family in Quito was well off and provided the comforts of Internet, plumbing, and a warm shower. My daily schedule consisted of spending time with other Fellows, which involved speaking English and being with people who I knew and could connect with. Needless to...
Read More
A Quick Preview of Home
Kaitlyn Johnke
2013-10-02
When I hear “Mariama(my name), ar nyameng(come eat),” from my host mother, Djalamba, I am immediately tremendously grateful for the opportunity to actively engage with my family members and community, even if I’m not really very hungry. Last week I was in my host site of the rural city of Kedougou and I was told...
Read More
The Magic of Barks and Bread
Amanda Langan
2013-10-02
Every morning I wake up to the sound of dogs barking. Then I hear the blender. After that, there is a light rap on the accordion-like door of my converted office bedroom. My name echoes louder and louder until I realize that my host dad is about to barge in if I don’t make some...
Read MoreMount Pichincha
Cecily Montgomery
2013-10-02
The world is an extraordinary place. Though this statement seems obvious enough, I have realized how often I would forget it as I got caught up in the stresses and hustle and bustle of my life back at home. Meeting the fellows and arriving in Ecuador has brought this message back to me. The most incredible experience I have had...
Read More
Quito, the capitol of the center of the world
Calvin Ross
2013-10-02
My favorite part about Ecuador so far is the way culture shock has affected me. I have a lot of friends around me who have lost their appetite and can’t bring themselves to eat hardly anything. I, on the other hand, don’t remember being nearly as hungry as when I left. So far, my appetite has been insatiable. My...
Read More
Eu Não Sou Cathólica: Faith in Brazil
Libby Parker-Simkin
2013-10-02
On Sunday, my Italian-Brazilian host family took me to their church. This story will make more sense if I tell you that I grew up in a Unitarian Universalist congregation and I have attended Catholic church services exactly twice, once for my church’s Neighboring Faiths class, and the other for a good friend’s confirmation ceremony....
Read More
O Barco
Joanna Shieh
2013-10-02
Ah the boat! A total of 90 minutes of my day are spent on the boat to get to and from my Portuguese classes in Lagoa de Conçeicão. It is during these 90 minutes where I learn the most about the country I will be living in for the next 8 months, beautiful Brasil. From the outside, this boat appears...
Read MoreTraining for Vulnerability
Aitran Doan
2013-10-02
“Organize logistics for medical brigade, deliver charlas for the community, gather malnutrition statistics, help with administrative duties when necessary….” These are my assigned tasks when I found out I was going to Napo, the main entrance to the Amazon rainforest in Ecuador, two weeks ago. During the elapsed time as I underwent further language and cultural training to prepare...
Read More